The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a hearing on September 16 on a request from Hilcorp Energy Company to waive the 330 foot setback as required by the Oil and Gas Conservation Law for a well located in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County.  (formal notice Aug. 29 PA Bulletin page 5448)

The hearing will be held in the first floor conference room at the Northwest Regional Office located at 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Hilcorp is proposing to drill the Pulaski-Chrastina 8H which will penetrate the Onondaga formation therefore the wellbore is subject to the OGCL and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 79. A well subject to the OGCL must be at least 330 feet from the nearest outside boundary line of the lease on which it is located, or if the lease is included in a voluntary unit, the well must be located 330 feet from the nearest unit line. The 330 foot setback applies to the entire length of both the vertical and horizontal well bore.

Section 406(a) of the OGCL and 25 Pa. Code § 79.11(b) allow an applicant to submit a request to waive the 330 foot setback in their application for a well permit The public hearing will be held for the purpose of DEP accepting testimony on the above-proposed 330 foot waiver request.

Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should contact the District Oil & Gas Operations, Department of Environmental Protection, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335-3494 (814-332-6860) at least one week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony.

Oral testimony will be limited to a maximum of five minutes and two written copies of the oral testimony are required. Each organization is requested to designate one witness to present testimony in its own behalf.

Persons with a disability who wish to comment and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodations to do so should contact District Oil & Gas Operations 814-332-6860, or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department may accommodate your needs.

Those unable to attend the hearing but wish to comment should provide written comments to Brian Babb, Permit Chief, Oil & Gas Management, Department of Environmental Protection, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335-3494. Comments should be submitted within 20 days of the date of the PA Bulletin notice.

All the documents regarding the waiver request are available for review from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the DEP’s Northwest Regional office. Appointments for scheduling a review must be made by calling 814-332-6340.

Related Stories:

Conventional Drilling Advocates Again Talk Lawsuit Over DEP Drilling Regulations

Webcast Live: Marcellus Advisory Committee Meets Sept. 2 On Drilling Regs

DEP Assesses $374,000 In Penalties For Methane Gas Migration Violations

Ben Franklin Center Releases Study Of Drilling Wastewater Treatment & Disposal

On Demand Video: Aug. 26 DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force Meeting

8/31/2015